Sampling Distribution Practice Problems Solutions

1. The company JCrew advertises that 95% of its online orders ship within two working
days. You select a random sample of 200 of the 10,000 orders received over the past month to
audit. The audit reveals that 180 of these orders shipped on time. This is a categorical problem
(sample proportion).

a. What is the sample proportion of orders shipped on time?

= 180/200 = 0.9

b. Does the sample data satisfy conditions necessary for the sample proportion to follow an
approximately normal distribution?

np >= 5, 10, or 15 and n(1-p) >= 5, 10, or 15

n=200,
= 0.9, p=0.95 (real number that ship on time according to JCrew)
(200)(0.95) = 190
(200)(1-0.95) = 10
Yes, conditions are satisfied

c. What is the mean and standard error (SE) of the sample distribution assuming normal?

mean = p = 0.95
SE = square root of [p(1-p)/n] = square root of [(0.95)(1-0.95)/200] = 0.015

d. If JCrew really ships 95% of its orders on time, what is probability that the proportion in a
random sample of 200 orders is as small or smaller as the proportion in the audit?

P(
<= 0.9) when n=200. P(Z <=(
- p)/SE) = P(Z <=(0.9 - 0.95/0.015) = P(Z <= -3.33). Closest to
this on from the Standard Normal Table is -3.09, P = 0.001. Thus, P(Z <= -3.33) is less than
0.001.

e. If we treated the problem as a binomial, how would the problem be set up? That is, what
would we want to find the probability of?

Trials would be 200, successes would be 180. P(X <= 180).

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2. A Gallup poll found that for those Americans who have lost weight, 31% believed the most
effective strategy involved exercise. What is the probability that from random sample of 300
Americans the sample proportion falls between 29% and 33%? Categorical (sample proportion).

n = 300, p = 0.31
np = (300)(0.31) = 90
n(1-p) = (300)(1-0.31) = 210
Both >= 5, 10 or 15
P(0.29 <=
<= 0.33) = P(
<= 0.33) P(
<= 0.29)
SE = square root of [(0.31)(0.69)/300] = 0.0267
P(Z<= (0.33 0.31)/0.0267) P(Z <= (0.29 0.31)/0.0267)
P(Z<= 0.75) P(Z <= - 0.75)

From the Standard Normal Table, we find these two probabilities to be:
0.7734 0.2266 = 0.5468

3. A bottling company uses a machine to fill the bottles with olive oil. The bottles are designed
to contain 475 milliliters (ml). In fact, the contents vary according to a normal distribution with
a mean of 473 ml and standard deviation of 3 ml. Quantitative (sample mean).

a. What is the distribution, mean, and standard error of the sample mean of six randomly
selected bottles?

Distribution is normal, sample mean should be normal with a mean = = 473, SE =

sigma/square root of n = 3/6 = 1.22.

b. What is the probability that the mean of six bottles is less than 470 ml?

P(
< 470) = P(Z < (
)/SE) = P(Z < (470-473)/1.22) = P(Z < - 0.246). From the Standard
Normal Table we find P(Z < - 0.246) = 0.0069.

c. What is probability that the mean of six bottles is more than 475 ml?

P(
> 475) = P(Z > (
)/SE) = P(Z > (475-473)/1.22) = P(Z > 1.64 ) = 1 P(Z < 1.64). From the
Standard Normal Table for P(Z < 1.64) 0.9495 resulting in final probability of 1 0.9495 =
0.0505

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4. Penn State Fleet which operates and manages car rentals for Penn State employees found
that the tire lifetime for their vehicles has a mean of 50,000 miles and standard deviation of
3500 miles. Quantitative (sample mean).

a. What would be the distribution, mean and standard error mean lifetime of a random sample
of 50 vehicles?

Mean = = 50,000, sigma = 3500.

We cant assume this is normal so have to go for the second assumption. Our sample will
have to be larger than 30. Our sample is 50, so this works.
n = 50 which is > 30, so we can assume sample mean to be approximately normal with mean
= = 50,000 and SE = sigma/sr of n = 3500/50 = 495.

b. What is the probability that the sample mean lifetime for these 50 vehicles exceeds 52,000?

P(
> 52,000) = P(Z > (
)/SE) = P(Z > (52,000 - 50,000)/495) = P(Z > 4.04). From the
Standard Normal Table we it only goes to 3.09, cumulative probability of 0.999. P(Z > 4.04) = 1
- 0.999 = 0.001. P(Z > 4.04) is less than 0.001.